Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Cultural goods import regime: EU is failing in its aims, says leading lawyer
24 July 2026One year after the EU’s ‘new’ cultural goods import regime became fully operational, a leading arts and culture lawyer says the EU is failing in its stated objective of combating illicit trade.
Roman mosaic panels roam to London saleroom via Austria
24 July 2026A recent sale of ancient art at Apollo Art Auctions (25% buyer’s premium) included a series of Roman polychrome mosaic panels that came for sale from a private London collection.
Taxidermist Walter Potter became animated by anthropomorphic topics
24 July 2026Walter Potter (1835-1918) was an extraordinary Victorian.
Cheap and cheerful White Star Line souvenir now worth £1600 at auction
24 July 2026Britannic was the third and last of the White Star Line’s Olympic class of ocean liners.
‘Balloon-mania’ blows in to Welsh saleroom
24 July 2026Italian adventurer Vincenzo Lunardi (1759-1806) first demonstrated his hot air balloon in London on September 15, 1784.
Anglo-Indian silver in strong shape
24 July 2026West London auction house takes second-highest result for Anglo-Indian silver thanks to tea service by a celebrated maker
Buyer relishes the chance to own a rare Prattware advertising plaque
17 July 2026South Yorkshire bottle and advertising specialist BBR Auctions set a new house record with the sale of this Prattware advertising plaque for a remarkable £45,000.
Buy a Halifax before the brand disappears
17 July 2026This 1920s advertising poster for Halifax Building Society features the text 'You choose the House We find the Money'.
Dent ‘explorer’ owned by Rhodes came via his batman
17 July 2026A silver Dent ‘explorers’ watch once owned by the imperialist Cecil Rhodes sold for £7200 at a recent sale at Hansons Holloways (28% buyer’s premium) in Banbury.
Do harp on about famous connections when selling musical instruments
17 July 2026Two 19th century harps with interesting ownership histories emerged at different salerooms in the space of two days.
Bidders splash out on rare survivors of fabulous fountains
17 July 2026Lots offer elements that once featured on much larger spectacular 19th century creations
Later ‘Boy and chicken’ cups paid homage to Ming masterpieces
17 July 2026Qianlong (1735-96) period ‘Boy and chicken’ cups typically pay homage to those made in the Ming period – particularly the celebrated Chenghua (1464-87) doucai prototypes that have long been considered among the greatest Chinese porcelains.
Heraldic beasts stir competition at Bonhams
10 July 2026Among the most eagerly contested lots at Bonhams’ latest sale of Fine Decorative Arts held in Bond Street was this set of four English heraldic beasts c.1600.
Event that challenges the traditional fairs model travels to Texas for first US edition
10 July 2026Event organiser Mariette & Co is launching the first international iteration of its Trois Crayons Drawings Hub in the United States this autumn.
Mystery Beatrix Potter teapot merchandise may have been made in Germany
10 July 2026Beatrix Potter was a pioneer of character merchandising. Two years after the publication of the first of her ‘little books’ she designed, fabricated and patented her own Peter Rabbit stuffed toy in 1903 – making him the first ever licensed character.*
Linnaeus letter to Ludwig sets a record in Sweden
10 July 2026A letter by Carl Linnaeus (1707-78), father of modern botany and taxonomy, has set an auction record in his native Sweden.
Yorkshire saleroom puts special focus on Mouseman and Critters
10 July 2026Dedicated anniversary sale devoted to Robert Thompson centres on three private collections